Liquid Cosmetic Applicator

ABSTRACT

A liquid cosmetic applicator includes a housing unit, an applicator head connected to the housing unit, a reservoir unit, a switching unit, and a pressure unit. The reservoir unit is movable and includes a cartridge. 
     The switching unit is connected to the housing unit and is operable for driving movement of the reservoir unit toward the applicator head. The pressure unit includes a stationary pressure base and a resilient member for biasing the reservoir unit away from the applicator head. 
     The stationary pressure base is disposed between the reservoir unit and the applicator head, and has a pressure rod portion extending into the liquid chamber, and an outlet channel fluidly communicating with the liquid chamber and the applicator head.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 103219671, filed on Nov. 6, 2014.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a cosmetic applicator, more particularly to a liquid cosmetic applicator.

BACKGROUND

In cosmetic product packaging, various forms of cosmetic containers are used according to different manners of cosmetic application. For instance, liquid eyeliner is usually stored in a tubular makeup container and an eyeliner applicator is dipped into the liquid eyeliner before application. In such case, the lid of the makeup container has to be opened for allowing access to the liquid eyeliner paste. However, the liquid eyeliner may dry out due to prolonged exposure to air.

In order to overcome the abovementioned drawback, there exists a conventional type of cosmetic applicator suitable for storing thick makeup liquid. The conventional cosmetic applicator stores a thick makeup liquid in a receiving space and the thick makeup liquid flows out to an applicator head without direct exposure of the thick makeup liquid to the air. However, the thick makeup liquid may suffer from difficulty in flowing through the head of the applicator. In particular, when the volume of the thick makeup liquid is decreased, it becomes harder for the liquid to flow towards the head of the cosmetic applicator due to a decrease of pressure in the receiving space.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the disclosure is to disclose a liquid cosmetic applicator that can overcome the drawbacks associated with the abovementioned prior art.

Accordingly, a liquid cosmetic applicator includes a housing unit having a receiving space, an applicator head connected to the housing unit, a reservoir unit, a switching unit, and a pressure unit. The reservoir unit is disposed movably within the receiving space and includes a cartridge. The cartridge defines a liquid chamber that is adapted for retaining liquid cosmetic and that has an outlet end in proximity to the applicator head. The switching unit is connected to the housing unit and is operable for driving movement of the reservoir unit toward the applicator head. The pressure unit is disposed within the receiving space, and includes a stationary pressure base and a resilient member. The stationary pressure base is disposed between the reservoir unit and the applicator head, and has a pressure rod portion extending into the liquid chamber through the outlet end, and an outlet channel extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with the liquid chamber and the applicator head. The resilient member is disposed for biasing the reservoir unit away from the applicator head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a liquid cosmetic applicator according to the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment, illustrating a reservoir unit at a distal position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the reservoir unit at a proximate position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an embodiment of a liquid cosmetic applicator according to the present disclosure is adapted for retaining therein a liquid cosmetic, such as liquid eyeliner, and for applying the liquid cosmetic. The liquid cosmetic applicator includes a housing unit 1, an applicator head 2, a cap 3, a reservoir unit 4, a pressure unit 5, and a switch unit 6.

The housing unit 1 includes a hollow main housing body 11, and a head-mounting seat 12 coupled to an end of the main housing body 11 and cooperating with the main housing body 11 to define a receiving space 13 for accommodating the liquid cosmetic. The main housing body 11 includes a tubular wall 111 that is coupled to the head-mounting seat 12, and an annular stop wall 113 that is connected to an end of the tubular wall 111 opposite to the head-mounting seat 12 and that defines a through hole 112 being in spatial communication with the receiving space 13. The head-mounting seat 12 includes an annular main wall 121 that abuts against the tubular wall 111 of the main housing body 11, an engaging wall 122 extending from the annular main wall 121 into the tubular wall 111, and a head-mounting wall 123 extending and converging from the annular main wall 121 in a direction opposite to the engaging wall 122. The head-mounting wall 123 is formed with an external thread 124.

The applicator head 2 disposed in the head-mounting wall 123 of the head-mounting seat 12, has a head portion 22 extending outwardly of the receiving space 13, and is formed with a head channel 21. The cap 3 is provided with an internal threaded threadedly engaging the external thread 124 of the head-mounting seat 12, such that the cap 3 is removably coupled to the head-mounting seat 12 for enclosing applicator head 2.

The reservoir unit 4 is movably disposed within the receiving space 13 of the housing unit 1 and includes a cartridge 41 filled with liquid substances, an end base 42, and a stopper 43. The cartridge 41 includes a cartridge wall 412 defining a liquid chamber 411 adapted for retaining the liquid cosmetic. The liquid chamber 411 has a closed end 413 and an outlet end 414 that are respectively distal from and proximate to the applicator head 2. The end base 42 is disposed at the outlet end 414 of the liquid chamber 411, and has a guiding channel 421 extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with the liquid chamber 411. The stopper 43 is disposed inside the liquid chamber 411.

The pressure unit 5 is disposed within the receiving space 13, and includes a stationary pressure base 51 and a resilient member 52. The stationary pressure base 51 is disposed between the reservoir unit 4 and the applicator head 2. The stationary pressure base 51 has a ring portion 511, an abutment portion 512, a pressure rod portion 513, and an outlet channel 514. The ring portion 511 has opposite first and second sides. The abutment portion 512 extends from the first side of the ring portion 511 and abuts against the applicator head 2. The pressure rod portion 513 extends from the second side of the ring portion 511. The outlet channel 514 extends through the ring portion 511, the abutment portion 512 and the pressure rod portion 513, and fluidly communicates with the liquid chamber 411 and the applicator head 2. The ring portion 511 has an outer diameter larger than those of the abutment portion 512 and the pressure rod portion 513. The pressure rod portion 513 extends into the liquid chamber 411 through the outlet end 414. Specifically, the pressure rod portion 513 extends fittingly into the guiding channel 421 and engages the guiding channel 421 in a leak-tight manner, such that the liquid cosmetic can only flow from the liquid chamber 411 into the outlet channel 514, and leakage of the liquid cosmetic between the pressure rod portion 513 and the end base 42 is not permitted. The resilient member 52 is sleeved on the pressure rod portion 513 and has opposite ends that abut respectively and resiliently against the second side of the ring portion 511 and the reservoir unit 4 for biasing the reservoir unit 4 away from the applicator head 2.

The reservoir unit 4 is movable relative to the applicator head 2 between a distal position (see FIG. 2) , where the cartridge 41 is distal from the applicator head 2 and where the stopper 43 engages and obstructs the guiding channel 421, and a proximate position (see FIGS. 3 and 4), where the cartridge 41 is proximate to the applicator head 2 and where the stopper 43 is disengaged from the guiding channel 421 by the pressure rod portion 513 of the stationary pressure base 51.

The switching unit 6 is connected to the housing unit 1, and includes an extending switch rod 61 disposed within the receiving space 13 of the housing unit 1, and a press rod 62 connected co-movably to the extending switch rod 61 and extending outwardly of the receiving space 13 via the through hole 112 of the annular stop wall 113. The press rod 62 has a press button 621 disposed outside of the main housing body 11.

Referring to FIG. 2, before use, the reservoir unit 4 is at the distal position, and the pressure rod portion 513 of the stationary pressure base 51 extends into the guiding channel 421 and is spaced apart from the stopper 43.

In use, the press button 621 of the press rod 62 is pressed by a user, the extending switch rod 61 is moved together with the press rod 62, and reservoir unit 4 is consequently moved by the extending switch rod 61 toward the proximate position. During the movement of the reservoir unit 4, the end base 42 is moved relative to the pressure rod portion 513 toward the applicator head 2, and the stopper 43 is moved toward the pressure rod portion 513 and is finally pushed by the pressure rod portion 513 to be disengaged from the guiding channel 421. At this time, the liquid cosmetic in the liquid chamber 411 is permitted to flow to the head portion 22 of the applicator head 2 through the outlet channel 514 of the stationary pressure base 51. Due to its viscosity, the liquid cosmetic would be kept on the head portion 22 of the applicator head 2 and ready for use without spilling out from the head portion 22 of the applicator head 2.

After a period of time, the amount of liquid substance of the liquid cosmetic would be decreased and the inner pressure of the liquid chamber 411 would too be decreased. Thus, the delivery of the liquid substances becomes increasingly difficult. To ease or smooth the delivery of the liquid cosmetic, the user can shake the liquid cosmetic applicator for moving the stopper 43 to disturb the liquid cosmetic. In addition, by pressing the switching unit 6 intermittently, pressure in the liquid chamber 411 can also be increased. Specifically, during the movement of the reservoir unit 4 from the distal position to the proximate position, the pressure rod portion 513 of the stationary pressure base 51 gradually occupies the guiding channel 421. Since the liquid chamber 411 fluidly communicates with the guiding channel 421, the pressure in the liquid chamber 411 is consequently increased.

During the movement of the reservoir unit 4 from the distal position to the proximate position, the resilient member 52 of the pressure unit 5 is compressed and a restoring force is generated. Once the switching unit is released, the restoring force would bias the reservoir unit 4 and the switching unit 6 away from the applicator head 2.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid cosmetic applicator comprising: a housing unit having a receiving space; an applicator head connected to said housing unit; a reservoir unit disposed movably within said receiving space and including a cartridge, said cartridge defining a liquid chamber that is adapted for retaining liquid cosmetic and that has an outlet end in proximity to said applicator head; a switching unit connected to said housing unit and operable for driving movement of said reservoir unit toward said applicator head; and a pressure unit disposed within said receiving space and including a stationary pressure base that is disposed between said reservoir unit and said applicator head, and that has a pressure rod portion extending into said liquid chamber through said outlet end, and an outlet channel extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with said liquid chamber and said applicator head, and a resilient member that is disposed for biasing said reservoir unit away from said applicator head.
 2. The liquid cosmetic applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir unit further includes an end base disposed at said outlet end of said liquid chamber, and having a guiding channel that extends therethrough and that fluidly communicates with said liquid chamber, said pressure rod portion of said stationary pressure base extending fittingly into said guiding channel and engaging said guiding channel in a leak-tight manner.
 3. The liquid cosmetic applicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said reservoir unit further includes a stopper; and said reservoir unit is movable relative to said applicator head between a distal position, where said cartridge is distal from said applicator head and where said stopper engages and obstructs said guiding channel, and a proximate position, where said cartridge is proximate to said applicator head and where said stopper is disengaged from said guiding channel by said pressure rod portion of said stationary pressure base.
 4. The liquid cosmetic applicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said stationary pressure base further has a ring portion that has opposite first and second sides, and an abutment portion that extends from said first side of said ring portion and that abuts against said applicator head; said pressure rod portion extends from said second side of said ring portion into said liquid chamber, said outlet channel extending through said pressure rod portion, said ring portion and said abutment portion; and said resilient member is sleeved on said pressure rod portion and has opposite ends that abut respectively and resiliently against said second side of said ring portion and said reservoir unit.
 5. The liquid cosmetic applicator as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said housing unit includes a main housing body, and a head-mounting seat that is mounted with said applicator head, that is coupled to said main housing body, and that cooperates with said main housing body to define said receiving space; and said liquid cosmetic applicator further comprises a cap that is removably coupled to said head-mounting seat for enclosing said applicator head.
 6. The liquid cosmetic applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said stationary pressure base further has a ring portion that has opposite first and second sides, and an abutment portion that extends from said first side of said ring portion and that abuts against said applicator head; said pressure rod portion extends from said second side of said ring portion into said liquid chamber, said outlet channel extending through said pressure rod portion, said ring portion, and said abutment portion; and said resilient member is sleeved on said pressure rod portion and has opposite ends that abut respectively and resiliently against said second side of said ring portion and said reservoir unit.
 7. The liquid cosmetic applicator as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said housing unit further includes a main housing body, and a head-mounting seat that is mounted with said applicator head, that is coupled to said main housing body, and that cooperates with said main housing body to define said receiving space; and said liquid cosmetic applicator further comprises a cap that is removably coupled to said head-mounting seat for enclosing said applicator head. 